Still, it was a poor episode for a 4th year of a four year community college finale. Only two graduated? The episode had a fun idea, take paint ball to the next level, but like the puppet episode it just didn't do it right.

Side note, what is Troy's major, or any of the characters? I can't remember.

Still, it was a poor episode for a 4th year of a four year community college finale. Only two graduated?

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It was mentioned in the season premiere, but Jeff's goal was to graduate in 3.5 years. This season only had 13 episodes, they might have originally thought they'd get the extension to a full order of 22+. In this episode, he again states he's graduating early. Due to the delayed airing of this season, this episode was probably meant to take place in January-ish.

Besides, after what this year of Glee has been like with the graduates incessantly homing back into their small pond... And Jeff did say that he was going to come back all the time to visit the study group who was still trapped in Greendale.

Still, it was a poor episode for a 4th year of a four year community college finale. Only two graduated?

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It was mentioned in the season premiere, but Jeff's goal was to graduate in 3.5 years. This season only had 13 episodes, they might have originally thought they'd get the extension to a full order of 22+. In this episode, he again states he's graduating early. Due to the delayed airing of this season, this episode was probably meant to take place in January-ish.

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That makes sense. Have a final 5th season with 13 episodes to do the spring semester.

That makes sense. Have a final 5th season with 13 episodes to do the spring semester.

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Actually, I would prefer they start fresh at the beginning of season 5, and pretend like we just didn't see the adventures of spring semester. Kick off season 5 as a return from an extended hiatus as "six months later". Would be able to give a more convincing reason for Jeff to be hanging around, probably (maybe the law thing wasn't working out the second time around).

I never bought into the #sixseasonsandamovie stuff, I just wanted four seasons with a satisfying finale where the characters graduated. But due to season 4 being cut short and ending with only Jeff and Pierce graduating, a fifth season with the other five characters graduating makes sense. After that, I think a sixth season about their lives after college would be a fitting tribute to the fan-base that kept the show alive. Then a direct-to-DVD movie.

Season 4 was definitely the weakest season so far. I had assumed that the season would grow out of its awkward phase after a few episodes as the new showrunners got into their own groove, but it didn't really happen outside of a few notable episodes. It tried too hard to attach itself to Harmon's Community with constant references to previous seasons, but it just couldn't live up to the style it was trying to emulate. Hopefully the feedback from this season will help them set a better course next season, especially now that the dead wood that is Pierce is gone.

I was only mildly surprised by the renewal. As I wrote earlier in this thread, why fire the showrunner of a show that you know is only going to on one more season. Makes no sense. The other big hint was that they called the last episode the "season finale" rather than the "series finale". The ratings may be rather minuscule but NBC must love the demographic that makes up those ratings.

Even without Dan Harmon, I am ecstatic about finally seeing a season (or half season) without Chevy. Hopefully, the showrunner will use this extra time to get further acclimated to the characters. I'm also hoping (and this is surely a pipe dream) that Jim Rash is promoted to producer with more a voice in storylines. Also hoping he does more writing. Very satisfied with this news.

Dan Harmon has revealed that NBC have asked him to return to Community. He would apparently be brought back as showrunner, and he's said he's open to doing it if he's given the freedom to choose his own writers and directors.

Dan Harmon has revealed that NBC have asked him to return to Community. He would apparently be brought back as showrunner, and he's said he's open to doing it if he's given the freedom to choose his own writers and directors.

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If this is true, it completely revitalizes my interest in Community.

I'm not concerned about plausible ways to bring Jeff back to the show. If Community cared about being plausible it'd be a completely different show.

Glad to see that Harmon returning remains a possibility. I agree with the "I'll believe it when I see it" crowd. If he did return I think it would give a lot of credibility for the show back to the hardcore fans who were underwhelmed by season 4.

As for issues with Jeff being around Greendale, not worried about that at all. Given how few of the episodes outside of season 1 have actually involved a specific class or professor.

I'm not concerned about plausible ways to bring Jeff back to the show. If Community cared about being plausible it'd be a completely different show.

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On the contrary, Community does care about being plausible. Every episode is grounded in reality to the point where these events could "actually" happen.

I read an interview with Dan Harmon where he stated that before he finishes each episode, he sits back and says, "If I read about this incident in the local paper, could it have been real?" He was specifically referencing the Zombie Halloween episode. If "real" zombies had attacked Greendale, it would have made national or even international news. But since it's just a bunch of kids who got sick eating taco meat, it barely makes page 7.

To me, that's part of the charm. These seemingly mundane events (a paintball game, a blanket fort, a school dance, even an RV retrofitted to be a mock space shuttle) are told to the viewer in a grandiose fashion.